Method of and machine for shaping the heel portions of shoes



Aug. 18, 1942 DODGE 2,293,282

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE HEEL PORTIONS OF SHOES Filed llay-29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 a w if Aug. 18, 1942. DODG 2 2,293,282

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SHAPING THE HEEL PORTIONS OF SHOES Filed May29, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 4 v if A? z/d m I A 1/ [M Z0 0/ M E I 1 4//f E w n W Aug. 18, 1942. .M, DODGE 2,293,282

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SBA PING THE HEEL PORTIONS 0F SHOE S' FiledMay 29,1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5' Aug. 18, 19 42. L DODGE- IMETHODI'O? ANDMACHINE FOR SHAPING THE HEEL PORTIONS OF SHOES Filed May '29, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 18, 1942 METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR SHAPINGTHE HEEL PORTIONS OF SHOES Milton L. Dodge, Newburyport, Mass.

Application May 29, 1940, Serial No. 337,784

30 Claims.

This invention relates to the shaping of the heel end portion of a shoe,and more particularly around the margin of the heel seat, so as toconform the margin of the heel seat to the heel, and it also has for anobject to press the heel seam of the shoe, thereby flattening it andremoving wrinkles and irregularities therefrom.

Heretofore it has been customary to attempt to remove irregularities,bunches, and wrinkles while conforming the margin of the heel seat ofthe shoe to the heel, by pounding with a hand hammer and ironing with ahand iron, this method also having been used in treating the heel seamof the shoe after assembling of the upper and counter. made to shape upthe margin of the heel seat before the attachment of the heel, yet owingto variations in thicknesses of material, faulty workmanship, variationsin the assembling of the assembled counter and upper portion on theinnersole of'the shoe, and the operation of securing the heel to theshoe, satisfactory results have not been obtained, and it has been foundnecessary to further pound and iron the heel seat margin after a heel ofthe wood heel type has been attached to properly line up the parts andfill in the juncture where the heel and heel seat should contact abouttheir outer margins. While there are various machines which rub down andflatten the heel seams of shoes in the upper fitting room before theyare assembled with the counter and placed over the innersole on thelast, because of variations in thicknesses of materials and inaccuraciesof workmanship the material is more or less bunched along the heel seamline where contact is made with the assembled counter stiffener. Thisoften necessitates a furtherpounding and ironing in order to flatten andsmooth the parts against the counter stiffener at the back portion ofthe shoe throughout its entire height.

An object of this invention} therefore, is to provide a method andmechanism which in one operation and with one set of forms will pressthe heel portion of the shoe upper adjacent to its heel seat and overitsback seam regardless of size, width, style,'and height of heel,thereby conforming the margin of the heel seat to the heel and removingwrinkles and irregularities in the surface of the heel portion of theshoe adjacent to and somewhat above the heel seat.

It has been found in practice that the curve of the heels of shoes wherethey contact with the upper, regardless of style and height, are sub-While attempts have been I stantially the same in the same sizes. It hasbeen further found that for different sizes, the curves change and thattherefore a two-sided jaw hingedat the back could not be made to conformto all sizes of heels.

In accordance with this invention, therefore, the pressing jaws are madein sections so related that they can be conformed very closely to therange of contours required for the various sizes of shoe heels.

A further object is to provide such a machine in which the shoe is sosupported that it can be presented to the forming and pressing mechanismadjustable in such a manner that the pressing mechanism will operate atthe outside portion of the shoe and more particularly along the marginof the heel.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are side andfront elevations, respectively, of a machine embodying this invention.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the machine.

Figure 4 is a detail section on line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 4a is a view similar to a portion of Figure 4 but showing amodification in which a last instead of a special shoe form is employed.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are detail sections on the correspondingly numberedsection lines of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a detail section on line 88 of Figure 7.

Figures 9 and 10 are diagrammatic views partly in section showing theshoe before and after treatment by the machine.

Figures 11 and 12 are fragmentary diagrammatic views showing the shoepressing members in different relative positions.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of a liner for the pressing members.

Figure 14 is a vertical section through a modified construction of shoesupporting form.

Referring to the drawings, the mechanism is supported on a machine headI which may be carried'on a bench (Figure 1), this head being providedwith an upstanding arm 3 at its rearward end. Forwardly of this arm 3there is secured to the head a slideway 4, Figure 4 showing screws 5for'securing this slideway in position. This slideway is provided with adovetail groove 6 extending backwardly toward the arm 3 for slidablyguiding a sliding block I. In the machine shown in Figures 1 to 6,inclusive, this lock 1 has a bracket portion 8 within which isjournals-d the forward end of a shaft 9, the rear end of which isthreaded through a bracket l6 secured to the top face of the member 4 sothat by rotation of the shaft 9 the position of the sliding block alongits guideway may be adjusted. For producing such adjustment the shaft 9carries a gear II which meshes with a gear I2 on the shaft 13 (Figuresand 8). This shaft I3 is journaled at its rear end in the bracket 8 andat its forward end in a bracket l5 secured to the forward face of theslide 1 and on the forward end of the shaft I3 is secured a knurledwheel l6 or other suitable means by which the shaft I3 may be turned.The forward end of the shaft 9 is journaled in a collar l8 surrounding aspindle IS, the lower end of which is slidable up and down within thesocket 20 of the block I and has threaded thereon a worm wheel 2| heldagainst the upper face of the block I by the retaining plate 22. Theshaft 9 has a reduced diameter portion at 25 which engages in a slot 26in the collar l8, so that the axial motion of the shaft 9 as it isturned, acting on the collar 13, moves the spindle I9 forwardly orrearwardly and thus moves the slide 1 correspondingly. At the upper endof the spindle l9 there is pivoted transversely thereto a shoesupporting form 28 (Figure 4) the pivot being transverse as shown at 29.The angular position of the form 28 about this axis 29 is determined bythe axial adjustment of a rod 36 having a neck portion 3| engagin in aslot 32 in the forward face of the form 28, the lower end of this red 30being threaded into a socket 320 inthe block 1. Above the block 1 thisrod 30 has keyed thereto the hub of a bevel gear 35 which meshes with agear 36 on a shaft 31 journaled horizontally in the bracket l5 andhaving means such as a knurled hand wheel 38 at its forward end, by theturning of which the angular position of the form 28 on its transversepivot 29 may be determined.

The vertical adjustment of the form which is produced by rotation of theworm wheel 2| is produced by rotation of the worm 40 (see Figure 6)carried by a shaft 4| journaled in the brackets l5 and 43 and havingturnin means suchas a knurled wheel 42 at its forward end.

These adjustments make possible the lining up of the heel seat face ofthe shoe supported thereon with pressing mechanism for engaging andshaping the counter portion of the shoe, particularly adjacent to theheel seat and to the heel seat margin of the heel and along the backseam. As shown best in Figure 4, the shoe is adjusted so that the upperface of the pressing means lies along the edge of the shoe heel and asshown is positioned slightly above the margin of the shoe heel so thatthe pressing face bridges over the juncture between the heel and theupper. All the adjustments for the correct positioning of the shoe formare accessible from the forward end of the machine, so that the operatorcan readily line up the heel seat of the shoe correctly to the pressingmechanism.

Instead of employing a special form for supporting the shoe off thelast, the last itself may be used as shown in Figure 4a. This last shownat 266 is carried on a last pin 2lll pivoted for forward and backtilting on a pivot 262 within a socket 263 in a support 204. The support264 is keyed in a socket in the slide 265 which takes the place of theslide 1 shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 8. The slide 205 may be adjustedforward- 1y or rearwardly by rotation of the shaft 266 the last.

mounted for actuation similarly to the shaft 9 of Figures 4 and 5. Thesupport 204 is threaded through the worm wheel 26'! rotated by a worm onthe shaft 268 whereby the height of the shoe may be adjusted. Theangular position of the shoe about the pivot 262 is adjustable by theturning of a bevel gear 229. This gear 269 meshes with a bevel gear 216keyed to the upright screw shaft 2 threaded in the slide 265, this shaftsupporting between collars M2 and 2l3 adjustably fixed thereon a forkedarm 2M which engages on opposite sides of the portion N5 of All of theseadjustments of the last may be made by turnin suitable hand wheelssecured to the actuating shafts for such adjustments, similar to thecorresponding adjustments shown for the shoe supporting form 28 inFigures 2, 4, 8, etc.

The pressing mechanism, as shown, comprises a plurality of pressingblocks, seven of which are shown, at 56, 5|, 52, 53, 54, and 56. Theblock 53 is contoured to engage the heel seam portion of the shoe, andas shown in Figure 4, it may be extended as at 51 to engage along theheel seam for a considerable distance from the heel seat. The otherblocks may be narrower, if desired, since ordinarily a relatively narrowportion of the counter portion of the shoe needs to be pressed in orderto properly shape the counter portion to cause the heel seat of the shoeto engage the upper edge of a heel of the wood heel type throughoutsubstantially its entire length on both sides and at the back, and toprovide a smooth contour to the heel portion of the shoe across andadjacent to the juncture between the heel and the shoe upper,eliminating all grins about the top margin of the heel and ironing andpressing out bunches and irregularities in the shoe heel seat, such asheretofore have been removed as much as possible by a hand pounding andironing operation and smoothing the shoe lining to the contour of theform or last. These other blocks may, however, be wider if it is desiredto extend the shaping operation to a greater distance from the heel.Means are provided for moving the blocks into pressing engagement withthe shoe carried by the form 28. The central rear block 53 and theadjacent intermediate blocks 52 and 54 are arranged to be moved by amechanism at the back of the machine, while the front blocks 56 and 56and their next adjacent blocks 5! and 55 are operated by side pres suremechanisms as will later appear.

All these blocks are supported on the top face of a generally U shapedplatform 69 which passes about the sides and rear of the form 28 but outof contact therewith. This platform 69 may be provided with suitablesockets for the reception of heating units such as the electrical unitsshown at 62, the heating of this platform acting to heat the pressureblocks 50 to 56, inclusive. A generally U-shaped cover plate 63 extendsover the top faces of the pressure blocks and may be spaced from theplatform 68 by the posts 64 at the forward end of the machine and byposts 65 at the rear end of the machine. The posts 65 extend betweenextensions 66 of the platform and similar extensions of the top plate63. The pressure blocks are provided with perforations therethroughbetween their top and bottom faces as at 10 for the reception of a coilspring H, the ends of which are secured as at 12 within the forwardblocks 50 and 56. This spring tends to press the forward blocks 50 and56 outwardly so as to open up the pressing mechanism, The central block53 and its adjacent blocks 52 and 54 are moved forwardly and inwardly toengage the heel portion of a shoe on the form 28, and for this purposean actuating bar I5 has opposite end portions perforated for thereception of a pair of eye bolts I6 which are pivoted to opposite endsof a yoke member IT as by the pivot screws 18. The yoke TI has a pair offorwardly extending spaced cars 19 which are connected by pivots 80 topairs of links BI and 82. The inner ends of these links are slotted totake over a pin 83 which extends through a rearwardly extending shankportion 84 of the central pressure block 53. The outer ends of the links8| and 82 carry between them rollers 85 which bear against the rearextremities of the blocks 52 and 54. The shank 84 of the central block53 has threaded thereinto the rearend of a guide rod 86 which extendsthrough a hole 81 in the forward face of the frame portion 3 and isslidably guided through a hole in a plate 88 screwed to the back face ofthe portion 3. Beneath this plate 88 the portion 3 has secured thereto apair of spaced plates 90 which extend rearwardly thereof and support apivot pin 9| on which side. plates 92, pivoted to the ends of the memberI5, are fulcrumed. The lower ends of the side members 92 are connectedtogether by a member 93 (see Figure 3), having a pair of spaceddownwardly extending ears 94 between which is journaled a cam follower95. Cooperating with this cam follower 95 is a cam plate 96 fulcrumed at91 between the sides of the frame member 3 and provided with a cam face98 struck about the axis of the pivot 91 and a cam face 99 forming acontinuation of the face 98, but sweeping inwardly from the adjacent endof the face 98. A spring I fixed at one end to the fulcrum pin I 0| onwhich the follower roll 95 is journaled and at its other end at IN to apart of the frame member 3 acts to hold the follower roll 95 against theedge of the cam 96. The cam 96 is connected through a forked link I02 tothe upper end of a thrust bar I03 by the lifting of which the member I5is rocked from the position shown in Figure 1 to that of Figure 4, thismotion acting through the coil springs I05, surrounding the eye bolt I6,and each bearing at one end on a collar I66 threaded on its eye bolt andat the other on the base I01 of a seat in the member I5 (Figure 7),forces theyoke member 11 forwardly and brings the pressure blocks 52, 53and 54 toward the shoe on the form under equalized pressure during theinitial upward motion of the bar I 93, further upward motion while theroller 95 rides on the edge 98 being idle.

In order that the blocks 52, 53 and 54 may be maintained in properrelationship, the block 53 is connected to the blocks 52 and 54 throughpin and slot cam connections. Thus the block 53 is overlaid by a camplate IIO having slotted ears at III which engage pins II2 projectingfrom the blocks 52 and 54. The cam plate H9, together with the block 53,substantially fill the space between the heated platform 60 and thecover plate 63, allowing, however, for a free sliding motion of theblock 53 toward and from a shoe on the form. The pressure being appliedto the pairs of links BI and 82 first causes the block 53 to engage theshoe on the form, whereupon further pressure rocks the links BI and 82and presses their cam rollers 85 against the blocks 52 and 54. By thisarrangement the inner corners of the blocks 52, 53 and 54 are maintained in contact and the pressing facesof these blocks define asubstantially unbroken contour line for the rear portion of the shoewhich is suitable for all the various sizes and shapes of heels.

The side blocks 50, 5I and 55, 56 have bearing on their outer cam faceperipheries the cam rollers H5 pivoted between the pairs of pressuredistributing links II6 which are fulcrumed on pins I I1 carried by apair of side presser arms II8. These side presser arms are fulcrumed atII9 between lugs I20 and I2I on this head. Below the pivotal connectionsat II9 these arms extend outwardly and have forked extremities I22connected through a spring toggle mechanism to a hand actuated leverI23. This lever I23 is fulcrumed at I24 to the machine frame and at itsrear end it is connected to the thrust bar I 03.

As shown each toggle mechanism comprises a perforated cross member I26through which is adjustably positioned a central screw I21 and a pair ofside screws I28. The inner end of this screw I2'I extends into a doublespring seat bar I29 between which and a double spring seat bar I 30 arepositioned coil springs I3I surrounding the side screws I28. The springseat bars I30 are pivotally carried by the plate I32. The central screwI21 bears against a cross pin I33.

The lever I23 is connected through a pair of links I40 to the plate I32so that by depressing the forward end of the lever I49, this plate I32is depressed, thus'rocking the lower ends of the arms I22 outwardly andbringing in the cam rollers H5 into pressing relation to the blocks 50,5|, 55 and 55 through the yielding connections afforded by the springsI3I. The lever I23 is provided with a ratchet detent mechanism of wellknown type comprising a ratchet member I44 fixed to the machine frameand a releasable detent I45 controlled by a lever I46 carried by thehandle lever I23. This provides for tightening up the pressure blocks tothe desired point, depending upon the size of the heel portion of theshoe being treated and the pressure which it is desired to applythereto.

In order to insure the maintenance of the adjacent corners of thepressing faces of these blocks in proper relation to each other, each ofthe blocks 5| and 55 is provided with a cam plate I56 similar to the camplate II 0 and provided with slotted ears I5I which take over pins I52in the blocks 50, 52 and 54, 56. These cam plates I50 also fill up thespace between the upper faces of the blocks which carry them and the topcover plate 63.

While it is found that by the use of seven blocks which are maintainedwith the edges of their contact faces in contact with the edges of thecontact faces of the next adjacent blocks, all the size variations metwith commercially may be properly taken care of, a further refinementcomprises a continuous facing for all of these blocks. Such a facing isshown detached in Figure l3 and may comprise a single piece of sheetmaterial I69 which preferably has an out-turned rim I6I at its upperedge for engagement over the upper faces of the various presser blocksand perforated laterally extended ears I62 at the forward ends which maybe secured as by screws I63 to the forward side edges of the end blocks50 and 56. Where the blocks are intended to be heated as herein shown,this member I69 is preferably of sheet metal, though should it bedesired not to heat the pressing means, a facing material such asleather, or the like, will be found suitable. Such a facing materialwholly prevents formation of any marks on theshoe upper at the juncturesbetween the pressing blocks and also insures a continuously smoothcurved contour for the treated shoe counter portion. The term operativeengagement in certain of the claims herein as applied to the action ofthe pressing blocks on the shoe upper is intended to denote this actionwhere the blocks directly engage the shoe upper or act indirectly asthrough a facing thereon.

The range of curvatures for shoe heels of different size and style isshown by the various dot and dash lines of Figure 11, the maximum sizebeing indicated by line a and the minimum by line b, and there beingshown two intermediate sizes.

In Figures 9 and 10 is illustrated the action of the machine, a heel ofthe wood heel type being shown at I18. The untreated shoe usuallypresents a bulge at Ill and the shoe upper may not contact fully withthe margin of the heel, leaving a fgrin as shown at I'I2. Likewise, theheel seam portion may be more or less irregular, this seam being shownat I13. The shoe to be treated is placed on the form and the pressuremembers are then brought into pressing relation thereto, the shoesupport having been adjusted so that the edge of the pressing mechanismfollows the line of the heel seat of the heel from side to side andaround the back of the shoe so that the upper portion of the pressingmechanism when in position engages the shoe upper closely adjacent tothe juncture of the heel with the heel seat of the shoe. This pressuremechanism acts to first press against the back of the shoe, includingthe heel seam, further downward motion of the handle bringing the sidepressure blocks into action, the extent of motions of these latterblocks depending on the shape and size of the heel seat portion of theshoe and the pressure which it is desired to exert on the shoe. Afterpressure has been exerted for the desired time the hand lever isreleased and lifted so as to free the shoe for removal from the form. Bythe action of the machine the bulge at I'I'I is eliminated, the uppermaterials plumped out so as to engage closely with the outer margin ofthe heel, and the whole contour of the counter brought into asubstantially continuous curvature with the outer face of the heel bothat the extreme rear end of the shoe and around the sides of the counter.

In order that the upper pressing blocks may properly line up with themargin of the heel seat of the heel, it is desirable that the variousadjustments for the heel form hereinbefore described be employed andwith the machine so constructed there is some inherent tendency for thepressure blocks to produce a wiping action on the shoe toward the heelseat. This wiping action may be considerably increased by the use of ashoe support such as shown in Figure 14. Referring to this figure, theform I88 is provided with a cover portion I8! having a flanged front endat I82 which may be adjustably secured as by a screw and slot with theforward face of the form I88. This provides for some adjustment of theangular relation of the shoe lengthwise of the pressing mechanism. Thisform may be spring supported as on the spring I33 seated in a socket I84in a post I85, this spring surrounding a screw I86 threaded at its lowerend into the base of the spring socket and having a head I81 seated in arecess I88 in the top face of the form I88. The post I is shown assecured to a block I89 as by the screw I98, and this block may beadjustably fixed to the slide I as by the bolt and slot arrangementshown at I9I. The spring I83 tends to hold the shoe elevated, butpermits the shoe to be crowded down by the pressure exerted thereon bythe pressure blocks which produce a downward pressure component, thisdownward motion of the shoe producing the desired wiping action. Thisspring also acts as a limited automatic heightwise adjustment for theshoe support.

It will be noted that the rear faces of the pressure blocks 50, 5|, 53and 54, 55 and 56 are convex cam faces where their operating rollerscontact therewith. The curvatures of these faces as well as the relativelever arms of their respective actuating levers have an effect indetermining the pressure exerted by these several blocks on the shoe,and should be so chosen as to obtain the desired pressure distribution.

From the foregoing description of certain embodiments of this invention,it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changesand modifications might be made without departing from the spirit orscope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the class described, mechanism for pressing the upperof a heeled shoe around its heel end including means engaging the shoeupper closely adjacent to the juncture of the heel with the heel seat ofthe shoe, and means for actuating said mechanism to press the shoe upperinto a contour merging with the contour of the outer heel surface.

2. A machine of the class described, comprising means for supporting ashoe having a heel, mechanism for pressing the outside of the counterportion of said shoe into substantial continuity with the adjacent faceof said heel including a plurality of more than two shoe engagingmembers together defining a substantially continuous shoe engagingsurface for the sides and back of the counter portion to the edge ofsaid heel, and means for closing said members against said shoe.

3. A machine of the class described, comprising means for supporting ashoe having a heel, mechanism for pressing the outside of the counterportion of said shoe into substantial continuity with the adjacent faceof said heel comprising a plurality of shoe engaging means togetherdefining a substantially continuous shoe engaging surface for the sidesand back of the counter portion to the edge of said heel, and means forclosing said members against said shoe, adjacent members havinginterengaging portions for holding said members in relative positionsfor wrapping engagement around the side and back of the heel with shoesof different sizes and styles.

4. In a machine of the class described, mechanism for pressing a shoeupper around its heel end about the margin of its heel seat intosubstantial continuity with the adjacent face of the heel of the shoewhich comprises a series of pressing members each having a face portionfor operating engagement with the shoe upper to the edge of said heel,means for holding said members With said face portions at their edges inregistry with the edges of adjacent pressing members, and means foractuating said mechanism.

are a machine of the class described, means forpressingthe upper of ashoe around its heel end about the margin of its heel seat and againstthe top margin of the heel, which comprises a series of compressingmembers each having a face portion for [operative engagement with theshoe upper, a flexible lining for said face portions bridging overadjacent members, and means for engaging said lining about the shoeupper following the line of the heel seat of the heel of the shoe. 6. Ina machine of the class described, means I for pressing the upper of ashoe around its heel end about the margin of its heel seat and againstthe top margin of the heel which comprises a series of pressing memberseach having a face portion for operative engagement with the shoe upper,a flexible lining for said face portions secured at its ends to the endmembers of said series, and means for engaging said lining about theshoe upper following the line of the heel seat of the heel of said shoe.

7. In a machine of the class described, means for pressing the upper ofa shoe around its heel end about the margin of its heel seat and againstthe top margin of the heel which comprises a series of pressing memberseach having a face portion for operating engagement with the shoe upper,means for holding said members with said face portions at their edges inregistry with the edges of adjacent pressing members, a flexible liningfor said face portions, and means for engaging said lining about theshoe upper following the line of the heel seat of the heel of said shoe.

8. A machine of the class described, comprising a support, meanssupporting a shoe provided with a heel and with its heel end extendinginto said support, a series of shoe pressing blocks slidably mounted onsaid support to close about the heel end of a shoe placed therebetweenfollowing the line of the heel seat of the shoe heel, and means formoving said blocks.

9. A machine of the class described, comprising a, generally U-shapedsupport, means supporting a shoe provided with a heel and with its heelend extending into said support, a series of shoe pressing blocksslidably mounted on said support to close about the heel end of a shoeplaced therebetween following the line of the heel seat of th shoe heel,means for moving said blocks, and means for heating said blocks.

10. A machine of the class described, comprising a generally U shapedsupport, means sup.- porting a shoe provided with a heel and with itsheel end extending into said support, a series of shoe pressing blocksslidably mounted on said support to close about the heel end of a shoeplaced therebetween following the line of the heel seat of the shoeheel, means for moving said blocks, and interconnecting means betweenadjacent blocks for maintaining their faces confronting the shoe insubstantial continuity.

11. A machine of the class described, comprising a generally U shapedsupport, means supporting a shoe with its heel end extending into saidsupport, a series of shoe pressing blocks slidably mounted on saidsupport to close about the heel end of a shoe placed therebetween, andmeans for moving said blocks, certain of said blocks being provided withprojecting pins and the adjacent blocks being provided with slotted earsfor the reception of said pins for maintaining their shoe confrontingfaces in continuity.

12. A machine of the class described, compris- 5' ing a plurality ofmembers for pressing the upper of a shoe about the heel end and adjacentto the heel seat, said members being arranged in a series extending fromone side of the shoe around the heel end and forwardly on the oppositeside of the shoe, an intermediate one of said members being arranged toengage the heel seam portion of the shoe, links operatively connectingsaid one member to members on either side thereof, and means engagingintermediate points of said links for moving said one member and saidlink connected members toward a shoe presented thereto.

13. A machine of the. class described, comprising a plurality of membersfor pressing the upper of a shoe about the heel end and adjacent to theheel seat, said members being arranged in a series extending from oneside of the shoe around the heel end and forwardly on the opposite sideof the shoe, an intermediate one of said members being arranged toengage the heel seam portion of the shoe, links operatively connectingsaid one member to members on either side thereof, means engagingintermediate points of saidlinks for moving said one member and saidlink connected members toward a shoe presented thereto, said series alsoincluding side shoe presser members forwardly of said link connectedmembers, and means for moving said side members toward said shoe.

14. A machine of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersfor pressing the upper of a shoe about the heel end and adjacent to theheel seat, said members being arranged in a series extending from oneside of the shoe around the heel end and forwardly on the opposite sideof the shoe, an intermediate one of said members being arranged toengage the heel seam portion of the shoe, links operatively connectingsaid one member to members on either side thereof, means engagingintermediate points of said links for moving said one member and saidlink connected members toward a shoe presented thereto, said series alsoincluding side shoe presser members forwardly of said link connectedmembers, means for moving said side members toward said shoe, and commonactuating means for said member moving means.

15. A machine of the class described, comprising a plurality of membersfor pressing the upper of a shoe about the heel end and adjacent to theheel seat, said members being arranged in a series extending from oneside of the shoe around the heel end and forwardly on the opposite sideof the shoe, an intermediate one of said members being arranged toengage the heel seam pore tion of the shoe, links operatively connectingsaid one member to members on either side thereof, means engagingintermediate points of said links for moving said one member and saidlink connected members toward a shoe presented thereto, andinterconnections between adjacent members for holding theirshoe-engaging faces in substantial continuous contour relation.

16. In a machine of the class described, shoe pressing mechanismincluding a series of pressing members each having a face portion foroperative engagement with a shoe upper following the line of the heelseat of the shoe heel, and connections between said members formaintaining said members in assembled relation.

17. In a machine of the class described, shoe pressing mechanismincluding a series of pressing members each having a face for operativeengagement with a shoe upper about its heel seat and adjacent toitsheel, and means for pressing said members in definite paths toconform to various sizes of heels.

18. A machine of the class described, comprising a series of more thanthree blocks for pressing the margin of a heel seat of a shoe next tothe heel, and means operative to close said blocks about said margin andabout the margin of the shoe heel.

19. A machine of the class described, comprising a shoe support, meansfor pressing against the back and sides of the shoe heel portion of ashoe carried on said support, and means for adjusting the height andangular position of said support to position the shoe with one face ofsaid pressing means lying along the edge of the heel of a shoe on saidsupport.

20. In a machine of the class described, a machine head, a blocksupported for front and back motions onsaid head, a spindle mounted forup and down motion in said block, a shoe form pivoted on an axistransverse to said spindle, a rod operatively secured to said form atone side of said pivot, means for adjusting said block with respect tosaid head, means for adjusting said spindle up and down with respect tosaid block, and means for adjusting said rod to adjust the angularity ofsaid form on said spindle.

21. In a'machine of the class described, a machine head, a blocksupported for front and back motions on said head, a spindle mounted forup and down motion in said block, a shoe form pivoted on an axistransverse to said spindle, a rod operatively secured to said form atone side of said pivot, means for adjusting said block with, respect tosaid head, means for adjusting said spindle up and down with respect tosaid block, means for adjusting said rod to adjust the angularity ofsaid form on said spindle, and means positioned at the front of themachine for actuating all of said adjusting means.

22. In a machine of the class described, a machine head, a blocksupported for front and back motions on said head, a spindle mounted forup and down motion in said block, a shoe form pivoted on an axistransverse to said spindle, a rod operatively secured to said form atone side of said pivot, mechanism supported adjacent to said form forengaging about the sides and heel end of a shoe carried on said form,means for adjusting said block with respect to said head, means foradjusting said spindle up and down with respect to said block, and meansfor adjusting said rod to adjust the angularity of said form on saidspindle.

23. A machine of the class described comprising a shoe support, meansfor pressing against the back and sides of a shoe carried on saidsupport, and means for adjusting the position of said support toposition the shoe with one face of said pressing means bridging over thejuncture between the upper and the heel of a shoeon said support and inposition to press the shoe into smooth contour with the adjacent surfaceof the shoe heel during the pressing action. 3

24. In a machine of the class described, means for pressing the counterportion of a shoe adjacent to the heel, and means for relativelyadjusting the heightwise position of the heel seat of the shoe inrelation to the pressing means to cause said pressing means to press theshoe into smooth contour with the adjacent surface of the shoe heel.

25. In a machine of the class described, means for pressing the counterportion of a shoe adjacent to the heel, and means for relativelyadjusting the angular position of the heel seat of the shoe in relationto the pressing means to cause said pressing means to press the shoeinto smooth contour with the adjacent surface of the shoe heel.

26. In a machine of the class described, means for pressing the counterportion of a shoe adjacent to the heel, and means for relativelyadjusting both the heightwise and angular positions of the heel seat ofthe shoe in relation to the pressing means to cause said pressing meansto press the shoe into smooth contour with the adjacentsurface of theshoe heel.

2'7. The method of shaping the heel portion of a heeled shoe to shapethe heel seat margin to the heel, which comprises simultaneouslypressing the shoe upper around the heel seat portion of the shoeinwardly and into a contour merging with the contour of the shoe heel.

28. The method step which comprises pressing a shoe upper to smooth,curved contour around its heel end about the margin of its heel seat andmerging with the contour of the heel and throughout substantially thefull length of its heel seam portion in a single operation.

29. The method step which comprises conforming in one operation the heelseat of a shoe to the heel thereofv around substantially the entireouter edge of the heel and with a component of pressure directed towardsaid heel.

30. The method ofshaping the heel portion of a heeled shoe to shape the'heel seat margin to the heel, which comprises simultaneously pressingthe shoe upper closely adjacent to and around the juncture of the shoeupper and heel inwardly. and into a contour mergingwith the contour ofthe shoe heel'while smoothingthelining.

MILTONL. DODGE.

